Charlton County Family Records Search

Charlton County family court records are housed at the Superior Court Clerk office in Folkston, Georgia. This county falls under the Waycross Judicial Circuit and sits in the southeastern part of the state, right next to the Okefenokee Swamp. Searching for family court records in Charlton County means working with a small courthouse staff that handles all types of family law cases. Whether you need records for a divorce filing, custody order, support case, or protective order, the clerk office in Folkston stores and manages them all. Charlton County is one of the less populated counties in Georgia, but the court still processes a range of family matters each year.

Charlton County Clerk Office

The Superior Court Clerk in Charlton County is located at 1520 3rd Street in Folkston. The phone number is (912) 496-2354. This office handles all family court filings, record requests, and document copies for the county. Staff can help you find a specific case or pull records from their files.

Charlton County is part of the Waycross Judicial Circuit, which serves several counties in this corner of Georgia. The clerk office in Folkston manages family court records for divorce, custody, child support, and protective orders. Because Charlton County is small, the staff tends to know the files well and can often locate what you need quickly. Walk-ins are welcome during business hours, but calling ahead is smart if you need an older record that might be stored away from the front office.

Looking Up Family Court Records in Charlton County

The best way to find family court records in Charlton County is to contact the clerk directly. Call (912) 496-2354 and provide a name or case number. The clerk can search the system and let you know what is available. For copies, visit the office in Folkston or send a written request by mail with the right fee.

Online searches through the GSCCCA portal may turn up some Charlton County records. This statewide tool covers deeds, liens, and certain court documents. Family court records are not always in the online database, especially for smaller counties. But it can help you confirm whether a case exists and give you a case number to use when you call the clerk.

You can also try CourtTrax for Georgia court lookups. This service searches across multiple counties and can help you find basic case information for Charlton County family court records.

Charlton County Custody and Support Cases

Custody and child support are core parts of the family court docket in Charlton County. Georgia law under O.C.G.A. § 19-9-3 requires judges to focus on the best interest of the child when deciding custody. Factors include each parent's home, their relationship with the child, and any history of abuse or neglect. Charlton County courts apply these standards to every custody case.

For child support, O.C.G.A. § 19-6-26 sets the guidelines. Georgia uses an income shares approach where both parents contribute based on what they earn. The court factors in costs like health insurance and daycare. The order goes into the Charlton County family court records once the judge signs it.

The Georgia Division of Child Support Services helps Charlton County residents when a parent stops paying. They can garnish wages and intercept tax refunds. DCSS also handles modification requests when a parent's income changes significantly.

Protective Orders in Charlton County

Family violence protective orders are filed at the Charlton County Superior Court. Under O.C.G.A. § 19-13-3, a person can seek protection from a family member who has been abusive. Filing costs nothing. The Charlton County court can grant a temporary order right away if the danger is real and present.

More information on the process is available at the Georgia protective order page. Forms and instructions are posted there for anyone in the state, including Charlton County residents. Once the order is signed, it enters the statewide registry so law enforcement across Georgia can enforce it.

Filing Family Cases in Charlton County

Starting a family court case in Charlton County begins at the clerk office in Folkston. Pick up the forms you need or download them from the court website. Fill everything out, pay the filing fee, and submit the papers to the clerk. You get a case number at that point. This number tracks your case through the system.

After filing, you serve the other party. Georgia law under O.C.G.A. § 9-10-91 sets the rules for proper service. You can use the sheriff, a private process server, or certified mail in some situations. Proof of service goes into the court file. Once service is done, a hearing date is set. The judge hears both sides and makes a ruling. Everything becomes part of the Charlton County family court record.

Note: Service rules are strict in Georgia, and missing a step can delay your Charlton County case significantly.

Charlton County State Court Resources

The GSCCCA is the statewide hub for Georgia court records and covers Charlton County. For vital records, the Georgia Department of Public Health handles marriage and divorce certificates. These are separate from court files but often relate to family court cases in Charlton County.

The screenshot below shows the Georgia DCSS homepage, which is a resource for Charlton County residents dealing with child support enforcement.

DCSS can help with enforcing or modifying support orders that are part of Charlton County family court records.

Nearby Counties

Charlton County is surrounded by a few other counties in southeast Georgia. Make sure you check the right county for your family court records based on where the case was filed.